Canton Whiz Kid: Kirsten Bernstein

Name: Kirsten Bernstein

Age:  19

School: Canton High School

Key to Awesomeness: Setting clear priorities and making wise decisions

Accomplishments: Recent Canton High School graduate Kirsten Bernstein’s world turned upside down sophomore year when her mom was diagnosed with cancer; opening a fierce commitment to life's priorities in a moment.

Attending chemotherapy and blood transfusion appointments, she was by her mom’s side to provide lifesaving care and support.

Bernstein was inspired by her mom and wanted to make her happy. The teen made the decision to give Mom no reason to worry about grades or her daughter's future. Despite missing about 20 days of school, the teen made the honor roll her junior year.

When your parent goes through something as serious as cancer, you become more attentive to yourself and more independent, the teen said.

Senior year, Bernstein herself was knocked out playing and suffered a concussion that took about four months to fully heal.

Again, she missed a lot of school. And again, she made the honor roll. Surprising herself and her teachers, Bernstein did not have to take final exams to graduate in June because she did so well in her classes.

Knowing it was more important to get her make-up work done than to play a sport. she quit the softball team. While she did run with the cross-country team, she did not participate in events. Bernstein ran simply because she enjoyed it.

Keeping life simple, most of her free time is spent with friends and family. “My family is important to me,” she said. They have shaped who she has become.

Bernstein made a big decision to honor her two priorities of family and education. Southern New Hampshire University–close to home–welcomes a freshman with wisdom and experience beyond her years this fall.